Argentina wildfire forces hundreds to flee after camper making coffee loses control of flames

Hundreds of people were evacuated from their homes in Argentina’s central Córdoba province on Tuesday as wildfires grew amid an intense heat wave.

Harrowing footage and photos posted to social media showed a massive wall of fire quickly encroaching on populated areas as hundreds of firefighters worked to combat the flames that had reached some homes in the area.

A total of 960 firefighters worked to combat the wildfires with eight firefighting planes and two helicopters, the provincial government said Tuesday evening. There were also reports that 300 people were ordered to evacuate and an additional 300 chose to self-evacuate.

Ulises Xarate, 27, has been detained and accused of starting a fire Monday afternoon in an area close to the city of Villa Carlos Paz in the province’s Punilla region, according to local media citing prosecutor Jorgelina Gómez. Xarate reportedly told police he started a campfire to make coffee and lost control of the flames due to strong winds.